Curing Back Pain & Sciatica Naturally

Bulging Disc Treatments For Long Term Back Pain Relief

Bulged disc, herniated disc, pinched nerve, ruptured disc these are interchangeable terms used to describe a condition wherein the medical the spine is adversely affected by injury and trauma. This results to a tear in the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc. When doing X-rays and scans prior to a bulge disc treatment, the images will show a portion of the spine bulging out. This usually explains excruciating back and leg pain.

Bulge Disc Treatment

To fully understand the importance of bulge disc treatment, you have to know what discs are and how they impact your movement. They are cushions that are sandwiched between the vertebrae in the spinal column. There is a space in the spinal cord called the spinal canal. The spinal cord is important because it is where the nerves come from. The nerves allow the back, arms, torso, and legs to move. The discs function as buffers and shock absorbers during movement.

There are two parts of a disc. The annulus (or the outer part) is composed of several rings made of hard cartilage. Meanwhile, the nucleus pulposus (center of the disc) is made up of soft substances. When a discs nucleus pulposus ruptures or herniates, a lot of pressure is placed on the nerves because the soft center bulges to the outer wall of the disc. It puts the whole spinal column in an awkward and uncomfortable position.

There are various options for bulging disc treatments. The initial line of defence for patients is the ice treatment, which only relieves the pain temporarily. This home care remedy is very easy to do but it does not substitute for more permanent treatments. It, however, will alleviate the pain temporarily. The patient is supposed to apply ice pack on the affected area and let it linger for 15 minutes. The ice will numb the affected nerve temporarily, slowing down the inflammatory process.

Of course, exercise is one thing that anyone with a bulging disc should be doing regularly, even though the pain of a bulging disc can make a person feel like they should lay in bed all day or not be very active, but the key to recovering from a back injury is to strengthen your core muscles which help to protect the spine and discs from bulging or herniating in the first place. One of the best core training videos I have ever seen is found here: Bulletproof Back: Advanced Core Training

Another popular bulging disc treatment is the ultrasound treatment. In the ultrasound treatment, the ultrasound emits ultrasound waves that produce heat. The heat is supposed to increase the temperature of the soft tissues locate beneath the skin. Therapists believe that generating heat in the soft tissues will improve the blood flow in the affected area. Consequently, it will also improve the elasticity of soft tissues. Ultrasound treatment, if done on a regular basis, will help the muscles relax. It lessens the pain and inflammation pretty fast. It will also reduce scar tissue build-up and promote long-term healing.

Electric stimulation is a common form of bulging disc treatment. Within the electrical stimulation treatments are several varieties. In the Intradiscal Electrothermal Therapy (IDET), the authorized person administers local anaesthesia. Afterwards, an incision is made through the disc. This is where the electrical catheter is inserted. The therapist heats the disc by producing an electric current. This heats up the disc and increases blood flow. Regular IDET may be administered for at least 6 months to see significant results. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is another bulging disc treatment that is sends low-voltage electrical current to the nerves via the skin. It is safe and not painful, although experts have said that it is not effective for chronic lower back pain.

Inversion therapy is an alternative bulging disc treatment that does not involve any invasive procedure. Only a safe inversion table with good quality is needed. A few minutes a day with the inversion table will ease the pain and eventually normalize movement of the patient. Eventually, treatment on a regular basis will alleviate pain and stress on the back. Inversion treatment should start gradually, inverting only at 20 degrees maximum. Most people eventually increase the decline to 60 degrees, as they get more comfortable.